Locking device for tire rims



' Oct. 14, 1930. M. D. PERKINS LOCKING DEVICE FOR TIRE mus Filed March 11, 1929 5 madam/2mm Patented Oct. 14, 1930 PATENT OFFICE MITCHELL 1). P RKINS, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN v LOCKING DEVICE FOR TIRE RIMS Application filed March 11, 1929. Serial No. 346,125.

This invention relates to locking devices for the tires and rims ordinarily employed on automobiles and like vehicles, and has for its principal object the provision of a simple,

'5 compact. and effective locking device that may readily be employed upon tire rims when in use as well as upon spare tires and rims.

A further object of this invention is the arrangement of notched locking studs upon in the wheel proper (or a support for a spare tire), a slotted hasp-like member pivoted upon the tire rim in position to swing over the studs when desired, and cooperating locking' means including a key-operated lock upon a detachable cap member adapted to fit over the studs and enter the notches thereof to prevent the removal of the hasp member from the studs until the key-operated lock is turned to free the cap member from the Q9 studs and the cap member removed.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein similar reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of 39 a wheel and tire rim equipped with my improved locking device. 7 Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the locking device with parts shown in section. a r

Figure 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2, and Figure 5 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 55 of Figure 2. Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a wheel of an automobile, or like vehicle, having a felloe 6 supporting a tire rim 7. The rim 7 and felloe 6 may be of any desired construction and the illustrated embodiment portrays a conventional type of tirerim and felloe by way of ex-' ample. The felloe 6 may be secured upon artillery type wheels, disc wheels, wire wheels, etc., and for the purposes of this invention, the wheel 5 may be considered as rigidly supported upon a spare rack carried by the vehicle body as well as mounted in the usual manner for rotation.

Extending inwardly from the inner periphery of the felloe 6 are a plurality of locking studs 8 preferably notched, as at 9, for the reception of latching elements, as 60 hereinafter described. Pivotally mounted upon the tire rim 7 is a hasp-like member 10 provided adjacentits free extremity with elongated slots 11 and shaped so that when it is swung into cooperating relation with the studs 8, the hasp-like member 10 will substantially conform to the shape of the felloe 6 (note Figure 3). When the rim 7 is properly mounted upon the felloe 6, the hasp member 10 may be swung so that its slotted 1 portion will readily pass over the studs 8, and it may be retained in such position by means of a detachable cap member 12 carrying a key-operated lock 13 and latching members 14 controlled thereby for entering the notches 9 of the studs 8. As long as the cap member 12 is retained in its locked position upon the studs 8, the hasp member 10 cannot be withdrawn from its cooperating relation with the studs, and so the rim 7 and its tire 7 cannot be removed by malicious or mischievous persons. 1

The cap member 12 is herein shown as having a pair of apertures 15 extending from one of its ends for the reception of the studs 8 and extending from the other extremity of the cap member and between the openings 15 is an opening wherein the barrel of the lock 13 may be secured. Various types of locks and locking elements controlled thereby may be employed in carrying out my invention. but I prefer a standard tumbler lock adapted, when a proper key is arranged therein, to rotate a lock bolt operating member 16. As best illustrated in Figure 4, the member 16 may be arranged as an elongated cam adapted when in one position (shown in full lines in Figure 4) to draw the lock bolts 14 inwardly out of engagement with the notches 9 of the studs 8, and when rotated to its other position (shown in dotted lines in Figure 1) g to form a stop torthe outward 'movement'of the locking bolts 14c, which are pressed outwardly into engagement with the notches 9 of the studs 8 by means of a spring 17. The spring 17 normally forces the locking elements14 outwardly except as prevented from so doing by the cam 16, and to facilitate the ready locking of the cap member 12 upon the studs 8, I preferably incline the outer faces of the locking elements-14 so that they will be pressed inwardly against the tension of the spring 17 upon contact with theiree ends ofthe studs 8 during the positioning of the cap member 12, and then snap into notches 9 of the studs whenthe cap member has been moved inwardly to the desired extent. When the locking members 1 1 have entered the notches 901? the: studs they can only be rem moved therefromby turning the cam control member 16 after the proper key has been in serted into the lock.- 13' and the lock barrel rotated through the medium of thelrey. To prevent the entrance of mud, dust, etc, into the key-hole of the lock13, I preferably-cover the inner extremity of the lock 13- with a re- 'movable cap18.

To prevent rattling of the locking device during the operation of the vehicle, I preferably provide a resilient cushion 19 between the felloe 6 and the hasp member 10, which cushion is of sufficient thickness that thehas-p member 10 is snugly pressed against the cushion by the cap member 12 whengthe' cap member is moved inwardly sufficiently to enable the entrance of the locking'bolts 14cin the notches 9 of the studs. In other words, the free extremity of the ha'sp member 10 is firmly pressed by thecap member 12 into engagement With the cushion 19 of rubber or other suitable" material and held in such position by the snapping of the locking bolts 14- into notches ofth'e studs- The cushion member 19 is firmly pressed against the inner periphery of the felloe 6 at the same time, and accordingly; the movable elements, such as the hasp 10 and cap member12 are'prevented from vibrating durin'g'ith'eoperation of the vehicle.

The opposite end of the hasp memebr 10 may be suitably mounted topr'event' vibration, and in the'illustrated embodiment, I have shown a plurality of. spaced apertured lugs? welded or other wise suitably secured uponithe rim andstraddled by spaced I apertured hinge portions 10 of the hasp, p'intles' 2 0 extending through the aligned apertures of the lugs 7 and hinge elements 10 when the hasp' member is being assembled; Between the'hinge elements 10 a portion ofthe hasp member 10 is arranged so that it'will act as aresilient tongue 21 pressing; against the inner extremities of'the pintles20 and serving both to prevent accidental loosening of the pintles' and chattering of hicles. A

While it will be apparent that the illustrated embodiments of myinvention herein disclosed are well calculated to adequately fulfill the objects and advantages primarily stated, 'it' is'to be understood that the inve tion-is susceptible to variation, modification and change within the spirit and scope of the subjjoinefd'claiins,

'Ha'ving described my'invention', what I claim is i 1. In a device of the character described,

a rela-ti vely'fixed member liaving'a plurality of spaced locking studsthereon, a relatively demountab'le member adapted to lo'e-mounted on thefix'ed' member and-carrying aslotted h'asp member in position to be" moved over the studs, and a removablefl'o'cki'ng member adapted to enclose and'be secured upon the studs to prevent removal ot'the 'ha's p memberfrom the studs: 1

21 In a dv'i'c'e of the character described, a relativelyfi-xed member having 'a' plurality of spaced' locking studs thereom a relatively del'nountable member adapted tobe mounted on the fixed member and carrying a slotted hasp member in position to be moved over the studs, and a removable locking member adapted to enclose and be" secured upon the studs, and when in locked position, engaging the hasp member to-prev'e'n't its removal from the-studs; I

3. In a device of the character described, a relatively fixed memberfhaving'a plurality of spaced locking studs thereon, a relatively demountable member adapted to be mounted on the fixed member and carrying a; slotted hasp member in position tobe moved 'over 4. In a device ofthe character described,

a relatively fixed memberhavinga plurality of spaced locking studs thereon, a relatively demountable member adaptedto be: mounted on the fixed member and carrying a-slotte'd hasp' member in position to be'moved over thestuds, and a removable locking: member adapted to encloseand be secured upon the studs, and when in lockedipositiom'engaging the hasp member to preventits removal from the studs, and a cushioning member arranged between the fixed member and the hasp member when mounted over the studs, and adapted to press the hasp member into firm engagement with said lock member.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification.

MITCHELL D. PERKINS. 

